The snakes are out!!!!

[adamanteus]

u could even get another butler (secretly) of the opposite sex and breed them and release the babies into your backyard to help repopulate them

Obviously this would be a very bad idea. Butlers are protected for very good reasons. If every one who loved Garters collected 'just two' the species would be decimated.
If it is indeed a Butlers, at least you know where to go to observe them in the wild.... and you can always take loads of photos before you release it.

[Stefan-A]

Obviously this would be a very bad idea. Butlers are protected for very good reasons. If every one who loved Garters collected 'just two' the species would be decimated.

Well, it's not a great idea to collect wild animals to begin with, whether or not they're protected. But it is especially bad when they are.

[anji1971]

Well, I talked to a man at the Nature Center, who seemed quite happy to think that I may have found a Butler's on the other end of town! I'm going to email him some pics, and I also directed him to this forum, so he can look at the ones I've already posted.
If it turns out that his ID is confirmed, then Twister will be returned home on the weekend, and I will pray that measures will be taken to protect the area I found him in, so we can hope to someday see many more of his kind!
I've gotten over the initial disappointment of having to let him go, in fact, I'm kind of hoping I've discovered something great over at that little pond..........